Uniform Civil Code (UCC)

• Article 44 of the Indian Constitution lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a UCC for the citizens throughout the territory of India.
• Article 44 is one of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
  • DPSP as defined in Article 37, are not justiciable (not enforceable by any court) but the principles laid down therein are fundamental in governance.
• The following are the objectives of UCC:
  • Ensure equality and justice for all citizens irrespective of their religion.
  • Integrate the Indian population under a single legal framework.
  • Promote national unity and secularism.
• The only state in India that has implemented UCC is Goa, which retained its common family law known as the Goa Civil Code after it was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961.

Upendra Dwivedi Named New Army Chief

• Lieutenant (Lt) General Upendra Dwivedi has been named the next Chief of the Army Staff.
• He will succeed General Manoj C Pande.
• He is a Chief of Army Staff is the head of the Indian Army and the highest-ranking officer in the army.
• The officer is the principal adviser to the Defence Ministry in matters related to the army.
• The officer is the key military adviser to the President of India.

India Hosts Hockey Men’s Junior

• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has designated India as the host of the Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup.
• It will be the 114^th edition of the tournament.
• The last FIH Men's Junior World Cup was held in Malaysia.
• The Fédération Internationale de Hockey or International Hockey Federation (FIH) is the international governing body of field hockey and indoor field hockey.

JIMEX-24

• The 8th edition of the Japan-India Maritime Exercise - JIMEX-24 has commenced at Yokosuka, Japan.
• The exercise was hosted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF).
• INS Shivalik represents the Indian Navy while JS Yugiri represents JMSDF.
• The exercise aims to learn from each other’s best practices, facilitate operational interactions, and reaffirm shared commitments to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Russia Day 2024

• Russia Day is annually observed on 12^th June.
• The day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR).
• President: Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, a Russian politician and former intelligence officer is the President of Russia.
• World’s Largest Freshwater Lake: Baikal Lake, located in Siberia, Russia.
• Russia has the second-most number of time zones after France. It has 11 different time zones.

SBI Launched SME Digital Loans

• State Bank of India (SBI) launched SME Digital Business Loans with the aim of sanctioning loans in 45 minutes.
• The initiative eliminates the need for traditional credit underwriting and lengthy appraisal processes, ushering in a new era of simplicity, speed, and accessibility in MSME lending.

World Day Against Child Labour 2024

• World Day Against Child Labour is annually observed on 12^th June.
• This initiative is by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
  • Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland; it is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.
  • The only tripartite U.N. agency, since 1919 the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
• The day aims to raise awareness around the world against child labour and highlights the importance of eliminating it.
• The theme for the day 2024 is Let's Act on Our Commitments: End Child Labour!